2013 Scion FR-S vs. 2014 Subaru BRZ

By Dave Stall

I know what you’re thinking, they are the same car. Not really, yes the majority of each car has its similarities but once you drive them both you can tell the difference. Both cars were built to be “track cars”, which means you can get a set of mounted race track tires in the rear cargo area, a roll bar will bolt right in, the seat and dash have been designed to accept said roll bar, the suspension on both cars has been raced tuned, so what are the differences?

2013 Scion FR-S

We will start with the Scion version, the 2013 FR-S (no information on the 2014 Scion FR-S). The 2013 Scion FR-S starts out at a base price of $25,255 for the manual transmission equipped car and if you opt for an automatic it will be $26,355 plus tax and license. The engine in the FR-S is a flat Boxer motor developing 200 horsepower at 7,000 RPM and a torque output of 151 foot pounds at 6,600 RPM. The fuel mileage rating is 22 city, 30 freeway and a combined 25 miles per gallon with the six-speed manual transmission and 25 city, 31 freeway and a combined fuel mileage of 28 with the six-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission.

You must use 91 octane fuel or higher to get these numbers and the performance designed into the car. The 2013 Scion FR-S is a rear wheel drive car, which puts a lot of fun in the driving. The interior is comfortable and supportive as well as the Subaru. As far as safety goes the FR-S has the STAR Safety System, which includes Vehicle Stability Control, (can help prevent slips and loss of traction). By reducing the engine power and applying brake force to the wheels that need it most, you’re Scion helps keep you on the road.

Traction Control, (Traction Control helps maintain traction on wet, icy, loose or uneven surfaces by applying brake force to the spinning wheels) Anti-Lock Braking, (Helps to prevent brakes from locking up by “pulsing” brake pressure to each wheel to help you stay in control in emergency braking situations) Electronic Brake Force Distribution, (Redistributes brake force to help keep the rear wheels from locking up during sudden braking situations), Brake Assist, (Sometimes we all need a little help. Brake Assist detects sudden or “panic” braking and adds the full pressure needed to help prevent a collision) and Smart Stop Technology, (Is a braking system that automatically reduces engine power when both pedals are pressed at the same time under certain conditions).

2014 Subaru BRZ

The Subaru uses the same engine design as the Scion FR-S, both sport a 6 speed manual and automatic but what makes the Subaru stand out is their own special touch, suspension tuning, engine management, safety is pretty much the same. Subaru has enhanced the interior with a little more sophistication in their choice of materials and features found only in the 2014 Subaru BRZ.

One safety feature that stands out is the lightweight ring body structure, which takes advantage of high-tensile-strength steel; it’s been named an IIHS Top Safety Pick, with top ‘good’ ratings across the board in the agency’s crash tests. One thing that is different from both cars is their fuel mileage which claims, Subaru says you should get 25 miles per gallon in the city and 34 miles per gallon on the freeway, still having to burn 91 octane fuel it seems to be worth it in fuel mileage and performance.

Both cars ride a little rough due to the performance suspension. The badging is different of course but I loved both cars, fun to drive, plenty of room and it is a perfect platform to custom build one yourself and the tuners out there will give you the missing horsepower you deserve! Now go drive one!

(Note: All vehicles provided by manufacturers for comparison test purposes. Photos provided by Subaru and Scion.)